Jerre and Mary Joy Stead have invested $12.5 million in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC to support transformative clinical and research innovation and entrepreneurship. It will establish the Stead Family Neurological Surgery Innovation Fund, the Jerre and Mary Joy Stead Family Chair in Neurological Surgery, and the Jerre and Mary Joy Stead Family Neurosurgical Innovation Lab.
“We share a vision with USC to create a neurological surgery center of excellence, led by the leaders in the field, to swiftly accelerate research and advance care,” said Jerre and Mary Joy Stead. “We believe USC will lead neurosurgical innovation and improve patient outcomes for decades to come.”
That neurosurgical innovation begins this month, as the Stead’s gift has made it possible for USC to recruit one of the nation’s most highly regarded neurosurgeons, Dr. Aaron Cohen-Gadol. He joined the faculty of the Keck School on July 1 as the vice chairman of innovation and professor of neurological surgery and will practice out of Keck Medicine of USC’s Beverly Hills clinic. He brings with him the world-renowned education and innovation platform he founded, the Neurosurgical Atlas, which has already transformed the practice of neurosurgery around the globe.
“Neurosciences, including neurosurgery, comprise a major component of our plan to expand research and clinical impact in the coming years, and Dr. Cohen-Gadol is a perfect fit to help realize our vision for igniting discovery,” said Carolyn C. Meltzer, MD, dean of the Keck School of Medicine. “His deep expertise and focus as a physician-scientist-educator drives breakthroughs toward addressing real-world surgical and health challenges. His emphasis on furthering the practice of neurosurgery, translating discovery to patients, and educating students and other physicians is ideally aligned with our overarching goals as a medical school where innovative thinking combines with research and skill to optimize human health.”
Dr. Cohen-Gadol is a Trojan at heart, receiving his MD here in 1997. He has become a relentless innovator committed to technical excellence in neurosurgery. Since his time at the Keck School, he has performed more than 7,000 complex brain surgeries and published more than 560 peer-reviewed papers. In 2022, he received the Vilhelm Magnus Medal, the highest honor in global neurosurgery granted by Scandinavian countries. He is one of only a dozen recipients in history.
“We are thrilled to have Dr. Cohen-Gadol returning to USC and bringing his clinical and research expertise to our patients and community,” said Dr. Steven Giannotta, chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery. “Dr. Cohen-Gadol’s entrepreneurial and innovative spirit will provide immediate impact to the patients and families he will serve, and his research efforts through the Neurosurgical Atlas will surely draw additional talent and resources to the Keck School of Medicine research enterprise.”
“For the past 20 years, I have had the honor of advancing the art of neurosurgery beyond what I imagined could be possible, influencing the training of thousands of neurosurgeons worldwide and the lives of countless patients across the globe,” said Dr. Cohen-Gadol. “I am excited to continue this mission in partnership with my colleagues at USC.”
The Neurosurgical Atlas he brings to USC is a nonprofit organization that has inspired a devoted global community with more than 80,000 physician members. The Neurosurgical Atlas unveils novel and efficient techniques for brain surgery with the mission to push the boundaries of surgical excellence, education, and innovation to achieve the best possible patient outcomes. The Atlas has become an indispensable tool in patient care and medical education, used by more than 90 percent of practicing neurosurgeons, as well as by medical students and residents.
Arizona residents Jerre and Mary Jo Stead are inspired by USC’s vision for creating a neurological surgery department that will be a global center for innovation, entrepreneurship, and education. “We believe that, with partners like USC, we can foster new levels of innovation and help bend the curve of some of the biggest health and wellness challenges we face today.”